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No Fixed Address

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No Fixed Address
By Susin Nielsen
Wendy Lamb Books, 2018. Fiction. 280 p.

Felix and his mom Astrid are living in their van. Astrid says it's only temporary, but they've been down on their luck for a while. She looks for jobs while Felix goes to school with his two friends, Dylan and Winnie. Felix is really good at trivia and sees a chance to get his small family out of their bad situation by trying out for a Jeopardy-style game show. In the meantime Astrid and Felix deal with the tricky logistics of food and hygiene and finding new places to park overnight. Felix is aware that his mom is not always honest and that her rules of morality are flexible. Then there are the grey areas when Felix finds himself dodging questions from the authorities and concerned friends alike. The secret of their homelessness is exhausting. But if Felix can win Who What Where When maybe he can change everything.

No Fixed Address addresses the cycles of poverty that can affect decision making and the circumstances that can lead to homelessness. It is nuanced, complex, and heartbreaking but Felix's first person narrative is also very funny, honest, and believable. This book has some difficult themes and mature content in it making it appropriate for older readers.
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